Dr. Laura Schlessinger Draws Fire for Using N-Word on Radio Show

There's a firestorm of controversy over talk radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger's repeated use of the n-word on the air.

It began when a black woman phoned in to talk about racist comments made by her white husband's friends, including their use of the n-word.

Caller: "How about the n-word? So, the n-word's been thrown around–"Schlessinger: "Black guys use it all the time. Turn on HBO, listen to a black comic, and all you hear is n-----, n-----, n-----."Caller: "That isn't–"
Schlessinger: "I don't get it. If anybody without enough melanin says it, it's a horrible thing. But when black people say it, it's affectionate."

Reverend Al Sharpton was appalled by Schlessinger's repeated use of the n-word, eleven times in total.

"To go on and on and rant as she did on that show just shows the height of intolerance," Sharpton told CNN.

The caller was shocked by Schlessinger's claim that the n-word should be considered in context.

Caller: "I can't believe someone like you is on the radio spewing out the "n-----" word, and I hope everybody heard it."Schlessinger: "I didn't spew out the "n-----" word."Caller: "You said, "n-----, n-----, n-----."Schlessinger: "Right, I said that's what you hear."

"Dr. Laura was clearly out of line as it relates to how she interacted with this caller. It makes no sense for anyone to use the n-word on the air in trying to explain her viewpoints," Roland Martin, a CNN contributor, told INSIDE EDITION.

And Schlessinger also offered some controversial advice to the caller.

Schlessinger: "If you're that hypersensitive about color and don't have a sense of humor, don't marry out of your race."

"That is absolutely despicable!" said Sharpton on CNN of the advice.

Schlessinger says she was so upset by the controversy that she cut the program short. The next day, she apologized.

"I was attempting to make a philosophical point, and I articulated the n-word all the way out, more than one time. And that was wrong."

She also said, "I myself realized I had made a horrible mistake, and was so upset I could not finish the show."